Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-20
NEW YORK LETTER.
David @. Yuengliug, IT., . Wealthy and
Happy Mantle Pact and Pres
ent-A Crank. Etc.
Nrw YoRK. February 10. 1887.

NEW YORK, February ~, 1897.
The mcdiaval German Vehmgericht,
the Carbonari OF Italy, the Nihilist of
Russia, have their counterpart IN this
country in District Assembly 40. IL
is true that the methods pursued are
different but the result in many re-
speets is the same. There are no
hole-and-corner meetings, masked con-
spirators, or awful penalties, yet the
organization is most powerful. Little
is known about il, even among those
who are forced TO obey It's mandates.
Originally il WAS, as it still is, sub
ordinate branch OF the Knights OF La
Dor. But within a year, owing TO the
manipulation OF a small coterie OF men.
il has shown its ability to control its
parent body and TO develop into a
secret organization of o character that
had been thought to be incapable OF
existence on American soil. 1t is doubt
full il, even in the oft-quoted councils
of the Nihilists, absolutism and secrecy
prevail TO greater extent than IN tins
body. originally established for the
benefit and protection oil American
workingmeD.
Within the past year il has through
its leaders gained control of the organi-
cation of the Knights Of Labor, it has
forced Master-Workman Powderly into
a position that has been destructive OF
his influence and prestige, it has
changed the laws of the order to suit
its own end, upset politics and politi-
clans in New York city by compelling,
under penalty of ostracism, the rank
and file of the Knights of Labor in New
York city to give support to the Henry
George political crusade. 1t has played
a by no means silent part in the quarrel
between Dr. McGlynn and Archbishop
Corrigan, and recently conducting a
strike in which from 10000 to $4,000
workmen along our water front have
been engaged, and which has already
cost in one way and another from
$1,000 eco to SIC, 100000.
This ought to be enough to last for
awhile. But No. 40 has few other
schemes in sight, such rs the abolition
of interest, the placing of all railroads
and telegraph lines in the hands OF the
Government, the formation Of new
Labor party, which is to wipe both the
other parties out of existence ; the
establishment of system that will pre-
vent mankind from being either rich or
poor and last, but not least, the cleo
ton of its leader to be master workman
of the Knights of Labor. This Is a
pretty big programme, but the three
leaders in District Assembly No. 40 are
fond of big programmes.
Three men practically control the
workings of this remarkable organiza-
ton. These are Thomas b. Mcguire,
of the General Executive Board of the
Knights of Labor James +. Quinn,
present master workman of No. 40, and
Victor Drury.
Mcguire is tall, good-looking man,
who wears SLOUGH hat and hair d Ia
Buffalo Bill. He loves secrecy and
mystery and hates newspaper re-
porter. The most insinuating scribe
can never get him to talk, except in the
way of deDuncation of the "capi
talistic press" he once had grand
scheme to call q mass-meeting of 100,
600 men in Union Square by means OF
q secret circular 10 the various assem-
blies of the Knights of Labor. He
thought that the sudden assembling of
such vast crowd without warning to
the press or police would cause great
sensation. And it would have caused
q sensation had not couple of report
ers, by intuition or otherwise, got an
inkling of the scheme and spoiled it.
They have spoiled others equally well
laid, and Mr.. Mcguire has no love for
them. He was originally Green
hacker, and is still, for aught i know to
the contrary. His present great am
bition is to succeed Powderly as mas
ter workman of the Knights of Labor.
James L. Quinn was also q Green
hacker, and is now an advanced Social
list. He is fifty years old, of medium
height, passable in appearance, and is
as mysterious as Mcguire himself. He
wants all property to be held in com
mon, and general idea of his policy
may be gained from the following sen
tence, to which he gave utterance in
Union Square the other night:
Whether we are defeated or not we
shall inflict such a terrible lesson on the
capitalist and businessman that they
will have no guarantee of any business
being carried through in the future. 1t
is turmoil and destruction until we get
what we want.
There may be those who may think
that the leader who thus proposes 70
upset all guarantees of business safety
is not wise counsellor of workingmen
who have to depend on business pros
perity for existence. Nevertheless, he
is practically dictator to about thirty
thousand workingmen in New York city
and the suburbs.
Victor Drury, the remaining member
OF this interesting trio, is the pam
phleteer and wire-puller of No. ~. 1t
has been said that he makes the balls
and has Mcguire and Quinn to fire
them. But at any rate he remains in
the background. He is more Com
munist than either of his colleagues.
If be had his way the Knights OF
Labor would be formed on the plan of
some OF the societies of Europe, which
are so secret that no member or officer
knows hisimmediate superior, andwhere
signs and grips and cabalistic characters
are the means by which business is
transacted. This would not be exactly
in consonance with American ideas,
but it is highly doubtful if Victor
Drury has very high regard for
American ideas.
There are q few indications just at
present that the heretofore inyincible
No. 40 has begun to lose its grip. II
has not Jared well in its war upon the
capitalistic press. It's latest strike is
not progressing as its leaders might
wish it to. In addition, the rank and
file of the workmen over which it has
domineered are beginning TO rebel.
Absolutism may be carried too fer, and
in their enthusiasm the leaders of No.
40 have not observed the extent TO
which they have gone with it.
RICH MAN WHO Is HAPPY.
Two gentlemen were recently pa
rading Broadway between Murray and
Warren streets. They walked arm-in
arm. Both were dressed alike. They
wore dark clothes of fashionable cut
black derby hats. and polka-aot cravats